For the first time in college football's playoff era, the champion of the Pac-12 will meet the champion of the Big Ten on New Year's Day in Pasadena. That's a welcome return to the traditional matchup for this tradition-soaked bowl game — and both schools have been away from the Rose Bowl long enough to make the trip likely irresistible for fans.

"We ended up right where we hoped to be, facing an awesome team in a big-time game that has so much history with this school and this program," Washington coach Chris Petersen said. "We couldn't be more excited about going down there. It couldn't be more awesome for our fans and where we recruit and those types of things."

Both schools will be making their 15th appearance in the Rose Bowl. But Washington hasn't been there since the 2000 season, and Ohio State has been just once since 1996, upsetting Oregon on Jan. 1, 2010.

Ohio State finished sixth in the race for four playoff spots despite winning the Big Ten title for the third time in five years. The Buckeyes trounced Northwestern 45-24 on Saturday night, one week after routing archrival Michigan in their annual showdown.

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer largely shrugged off the playoff snub, instead focusing on the chance to finish strong.

"Hard to say I've ever been more proud of a group of players," said Meyer, who is going to the Rose Bowl for the first time. "Not just players, but people, the way they demonstrated their resilience and toughness and love for one another."

A blowout loss to Purdue in October doomed the Buckeyes, but their second trip to Pasadena in 22 years is a pretty decent finish to an eventful season.

"I know they're always good," said Petersen, who spent time in Columbus with Meyer shortly after getting the job at Washington. "I know the job Urban does and how he coaches. They're always going to be a team that is very elite whether they're in the four-team playoff or right there. That's kind of how he does it."

The Huskies (10-3) are in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 18 years after overcoming a disappointing start to the season with four straight wins in November, including a snowy Apple Cup win over Washington State and a defense-dominated victory over Utah in the Pac-12 title game last Friday.

Washington still won the Pac-12 for the second time in three years.

The schools will be meeting for the 12th time, but the first since 2007. Jim Tressel's Buckeyes beat Tyrone Willingham's Huskies 33-14.

Things to know about this matchup:

BUCKEYE TALENT

Ohio State will be led into Pasadena by Heisman Trophy hopeful Dwayne Haskins, who led the nation with 47 touchdown passes and finished with 4,580 yards passing in a spectacular season. The sophomore's emergence has been a remarkable development for the Buckeyes, who rode his steady playmaking to another conference crown.

"The Rose Bowl has a great history," Haskins said. "A lot of (great) quarterbacks played in that game. It's a very rich tradition game. I'm looking forward to competing with my teammates."

HUSKIES HOPES

Washington has its own headlining offensive stars in quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, the school's career rushing leader. But Petersen's team wasn't fully satisfied with its season, which included an opening loss to Auburn and two defeats in three games during October.

URBAN'S TURN

Meyer is happy to get his first chance to coach in Pasadena after years of watching the famed game on television. "We came close a few times," Meyer said. "I know @ Florida one time, I thought we were close to going. Then here in '14, I thought we were going. There was one other time that I thought we were going, and we didn't. And no disrespect to the other bowl games, because they're awesome, but the Rose is the one we've always looked forward to."

FRIENDLY COACHES

Petersen said he has a "really good" relationship with Meyer: "Known him for a while. Lot of respect for him. When I first came here, I went back (to Columbus) and spent a few days with him, and he was awesome to me. I really appreciate him and the job that he has done and all the hard things coaches go through and all that. Have a lot of respect for him."

STRENGTH ON STRENGTH

The matchup contrasts the Buckeyes' powerful offense with the Huskies' imposing defense. Ohio State finished in the national top 10 with 43.5 points per game, while Washington had a top-10 defense, allowing just 15.5 points per game.